Online Hotel Booking factors

[ashamr_123]

Greeting Forum members,

I am an expat student of MMSI Masters program in Binus University. One of the requirements is to defend a thesis work on The investigation of factors affecting consumer decision-making for online hotel booking.

In order to complete my work based on the developed model, I require some data from a survey for which I have prepared a questionnaire and would appreciate you support in filling this questionnaire. The link of the questionnaire is here: https://goo.gl/forms/ThYK32Rcu6E1Pwe43

I thank you in advance for your kind support. and in case you need any information or clarification PM me.

Information about Survey:

• Takes about 7-10 minutes to complete
• Its in English in a multiple choice format
• Results would only be used for academic purposes.

Best Regards,

Ashaamr

 

[jstar]

What surprised me somewhat in filling in the questionnaire, is that you only see why a certain booking website, is preferred by the person. So which factors make it a better booking site. It is not really an investigation of these factors..

So, the comparisons and questions were not weighted, i.e. now you can't judge what for the participants is the most important deciding factor of using a certain booking site. (Offerings in certain countries? Language? Price? Convenience? Options? Payment methods? Quality of communication?)

It is mandatory to fill in one name of a booking site. And then you ask questions that compare this website to 'all others'. In my case I use more than one, and there are good reasons for that. (And I won't fill in the questionnaire three times.)

Also, the question if we use the hotel websites was just a "yes/no" option, also here is no further inquiry when or why (price? points/membership of the chain? weekend promos?). So that was a bit of an afterthought and you have no data on quantities, on how often these sites are used versus the booking sites.

So now you end up with 70x Agoda, 60x Booking.com, 55x Traveloka, .... and a confirmation that 95% finds the prices offered on a booking website they use better than the competition. Wow.

NB: I really like how Ashaamr is accepting and implementing our remarks and suggestions.
.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks Jstar,

The survey is mainly targeted to residents of Indonesia and the question to add the name of website was only to see whether the preference is local website or the international one. (this can potentially be one factor). Surprisingly the respondents until now have strong preference for local website focussed on Indonesia only.

The weightage havent been given during the survey and factors would be evaluated based on a model and the results of the survey would be analysed using SPSS to check their validity and reliability.

I hope this helps and thanks for filling out.

 

[brian@bekasi]

Just completed the survey and with no disrespect, the questions do not allow me to provide you with a complete understanding of how and why I make my online accommodation decisions.

I make my decisions based on a number factors including but not limited to budget, price and location( eg close to tourist attractions).That means I am not restricted to using a single agency or method.

I research all options before booking which means I may eventually book with an online agencies or directly with the hotel. For example, yesterday I booked 5 days in London in May and elected to book through agoda as they allowed payment in IDR. The hotel was offering a marginally better price but payments was in GBP. When I considered exchange rates and credit card fees the agoda deal was better. However this is not always this case and the hotel at times offers a better deal.

The survey only allows comments on one agency so it is not possible to ascertain my reason for decisions and hence it is difficult to ascertain "factors affecting consumer decision-making for online hotel booking".

I also not that there is no age category for those of us over 55.

Hope these comments help.

 

[rabbit_39]

This is typical of surveys in Indonesia, only looking at a specific point of view and unable to provide impartiality when designing the questions. Leading questions, not allowing for certain types of answers, and directing the respondents to a specific outcome are all typical strategies of these surveys. Very few surveys are designed to consider the various possibilities of responses and what they can mean. I realize this may be your first survey that you've designed, but consider the comments above as positive inputs on how you can improve and las something yoi can learn from.

... the results of the survey would be analysed using SPSS to check their validity and reliability.

SPSS is just a tool for analysis, to automate the tabulating and scoring. it won't help you think or make the analysis (what the data means and how to interpret it for impact or next steps). These are the things you need to do on your own. If SPSS can do the thinking for you, researchers who do surveys will be out of the job.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate your comments.

I have added a category of age above 55.

My study is little more focused on what factors are considered by residents of Indonesia while online booking. And as per the preliminary responses received, the preference is of local websites which quote local currency rates without conversion.

 

[Puspawarna]

This reminds me that once upon a time, as part of my moderating duties here or at the old site, I started to come up with a set of guidelines for people who want to ask forum members to participate in their on-line surveys. I don't remember what happened to it, but maybe I should finalize something that could be a sticky here.

Meanwhile ... here are a few thoughts - not about the survey itself, which I have not taken, but about good things to do when you ask people to participate:

1) Tell people how long it will take to complete the survey
2) Tell people what language(s) the survey is in
3) Tell people what target group(s) you would like to hear from, if there are any restrictions (for example, only foreigners, only people under 55, only females, etc.)
4) Tell people what you will do with the results, and whether participants will have a chance to examine the analysis that you do.

Anyway, there is no requirement that you follow those steps, but it will help you to get people to participate. I'm always reluctant to click on a survey link when I don't know if it is going to take me 5 minutes or 45 minutes to complete it. And if the topic is interesting, I'm motivated to participate if I think that I will get to read the results someday.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks for your comments and inputs.
Indeed it is my first time designing a survey and am learning a lot.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks for the pointers. The original thread post updated.
I hope this would encourage your participation alongwith others.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks for the comments. My idea was not to make the survey too long and complex but still keep it data-enriched. Also, I have added another statement inquiring generally about any other factors that seem important to the consumer while booking online.

 

[jstar]

Ashaamr, you have my respect for the way you deal with our remarks, and how you follow up on those.

 

[Anglian]

A professional already

 

[Puspawarna]

Ashaamr, you have my respect for the way you deal with our remarks, and how you follow up on those.

Agree, I thought the same thing.

ETA: I took the survey. It's quite painless, so I encourage others to take the time. I don't have any new observations to add - the main limitations have been noted already. But we all have to start somewhere - this will be a learning experience and hopefully lead to improved research in the future. Good luck, ashamr_123.

 

[ashamr_123]

Thanks Jstar, anglian puspa and all.

 

[brian@bekasi]

May I also add my appreciation of how you have responded to our comments. it is very refreshing. As a good listening i suspect you will achieve much in your career.

 

[ashamr_123]

May I also add my appreciation of how you have responded to our comments. it is very refreshing. As a good listening i suspect you will achieve much in your career.

Thanks

 

[waarmstrong]

When you are as old as dirt, its quite refreshing to have young folks listen to you views.